Filter-antenna and method for making the same

ABSTRACT

A filter-antenna and a method for making a filter-antenna. The filter antenna includes a microstrip antenna, such as a patch antenna, integrated with an absorptive (e.g., bandstop) filter for absorbing or dissipating energy.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a filter-antenna and a method for making thefilter-antenna. The invention also relates to a communication devicethat includes the filter-antenna.

BACKGROUND

Filters and antennas are common and important components incommunication devices. A filter-antenna (or filtering-antenna) is adevice that combines an antenna and a filter.

Existing filter-antennas are reflective filter-antennas. Thesereflective filter-antennas reflect most of the incident energy in thestopband. The reflected energy may be transferred to other components(e.g., a power amplifier associated with the filter-antenna) in thesystem, which may lead to instability (e.g., self-oscillation in thepower amplifier). One option to avoid or mitigate this instabilityproblem is to use isolators, circulators, and/or attenuators in thesystem to reduce the effect of the reflected energy on the system.However, this option would increase the number of the components in thesystem, making the system cumbersome and expensive while potentiallyincreasing the insertion loss.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided afilter-antenna, comprising a microstrip antenna integrated with anabsorptive filter for absorbing or dissipating energy. By absorbing ordissipating the energy, e.g., energy received from an external source,reflection of energy (which may otherwise affect stability of othercomponents/devices) can be prevented, reduced, or eliminated. Thefilter-antenna can be used for transmission, receiving, or both.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the microstrip antenna is a patchantenna. The patch antenna has a relatively low profile.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the absorptive filter is aband-stop filter for absorbing or dissipating stopband energy.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the microstrip antenna includes asubstrate, a ground plane arranged a first face of the substrate, and amicrostrip network arranged on a second, opposite face of the substrate.The microstrip antenna may include further layers or components. Theabsorptive filter includes a filter element at least partly arrangedinside the substrate. Preferably, the filter element is arrangedsubstantially completely inside the substrate.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the filter element comprises aresistor. The resistor may be a chip resistor.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the absorptive filter furthercomprises: a defected microstrip structure arranged in the microstripnetwork and a defected ground structure arranged in the ground plane.The defected microstrip structure and the defected ground structure areoperably connected with the filter element.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the microstrip antenna is a patchantenna and the microstrip network comprises a patch. The patch may bearranged centrally of the substrate.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the patch includes a centralportion, and the defected microstrip structure comprises one or moreslots arranged (e.g., etched) in the central portion of the patch. Theslot(s) may be U-shaped. The central portion of the patch may includeone or more open stubs each associated with a respective slot. In oneexample, the patch has two open stubs, e.g., two λ_(g)/4 open stubs,where λ_(g) is the guided wavelength at the center frequency.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the patch further includes afirst side portion connected with and arranged a first side of thecentral portion and a second side portion connected with and arranged ata second, opposite side of the central portion. Each of the first andsecond side portions includes one or more stubs. In one example, each ofthe first and second side portions includes a dual-stub or a dual-stubfeed. The stubs in the dual stub or dual stub feed can be of differentlengths.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the patch is symmetric about anaxis of symmetry. The central portion of the patch may also be symmetricabout the axis of symmetry.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the defected ground structurecomprises one or more slots (e.g., etched) arranged in the ground plane.The defected ground structure may comprise a central slot correspondingto the central portion of the patch. The central slot may be U-shaped.In plan view, the central slot may overlap with the central portion ofthe patch.

The defected ground structure may further comprise a first side slotarranged on a first side of the central slot and a second side slotarranged on a second, opposite side of the central slot. The first andsecond side slots are arranged to assist in absorbing or dissipating theenergy. The first and second side slots can be symmetrically disposedabout the axis of symmetry. The first and second side slots may have thesame shape and size. The first and second side slots may be agenerally-q shaped.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the microstrip network furthercomprises one or more parasitic patches operably connected with thepatch. The one or more parasitic patches may be spaced apart from thepatch. The one or more parasitic patches may comprise two parasiticpatches arranged at opposite sides of the patch. The two parasiticpatches may be slotted patches each having one or more slots. In oneexample, the slot is rectangular. The two parasitic patches may beequally spaced apart from the patch and symmetrically disposed about thepatch.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the patch antenna has a coaxialfeed that extends through the substrate and connects with the patch. Inone example, the coaxial feed is connected at one end of the patch andthe filter element is connected at another end of the patch. The coaxialfeed may extend perpendicular to the face of the substrate.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a communicationdevice comprising the filter-antenna of the first aspect. Thecommunication device may be a wireless communication device. Thecommunication device may be part of a communication system.

In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method formaking a filter-antenna, comprising forming a microstrip antennaintegrated with an absorptive filter for absorbing or dissipatingenergy. The forming includes forming a microstrip antenna; andintegrating, in the microstrip antenna, an absorptive filter forabsorbing or dissipating energy. The two steps can be performedsimultaneously.

In one embodiment of the third aspect, forming the microstrip antennacomprises forming a patch antenna.

In one embodiment of the third aspect, forming the microstrip antennacomprises forming a microstrip network on a first face of a substrate ofthe microstrip antenna.

In one embodiment of the third aspect, forming the microstrip antennafurther comprises forming a defected microstrip structure in themicrostrip network.

In one embodiment of the third aspect, forming the microstrip antennafurther comprises forming a defected ground structure on a ground planeon a second, opposite face of the microstrip antenna.

In one embodiment of the third aspect, integrating the absorptive filtercomprises forming a hole in the substrate for receiving a filter elementof the absorptive filter. Integrating the absorptive filter may furtherinclude arranging the filter element of the absorptive filter in thehole.

In one embodiment of the third aspect, arranging the filter element ofthe absorptive filter in the hole comprises arranging the filter elementof the absorptive filter arranged substantially completely in the hole.

In one embodiment of the third aspect, the method further comprisesforming an electric connection between the filter element and the groundplane and an electric connection between the filter element and themicrostrip network. Forming the electric connection may include weldingor soldering.

In one embodiment of the third aspect, the filter element comprises aresistor. The resistor may be a chip resistor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a filter-antenna in one embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 2A is a top view of a filter-antenna in one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a patch in the filter-antenna of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a side view of the filter-antenna of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2D is a bottom view of the filter-antenna of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for making a filter-antennain one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4A is a picture showing a top surface of a filter-antenna in oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4B is a picture showing a bottom surface of the filter-antenna ofFIG. 3A;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing measured and simulated reflection coefficientsof the filter-antenna of FIG. 4A and reflection coefficient of areference antenna;

FIG. 6A is a graph showing measured and simulated radiation patterns ofthe filter-antenna of FIG. 4A in the E-plane (x-z plane) at 5.8 GHz;

FIG. 6B is a graph showing measured and simulated radiation patterns ofthe filter-antenna of FIG. 4A in the H-plane (y-z plane) at 5.8 GHz;

FIG. 7 is a graph showing measured and simulated gain of thefilter-antenna of FIG. 3A and gain of a reference antenna;

FIG. 8 is a graph showing measured and simulated total antennaefficiency of the filter-antenna of FIG. 4A and total antenna efficiencyof a reference antenna; and

FIG. 9 is a graph showing simulated power loss (normalized with respectto its maximum at 5.24 GHz) in the chip resistor in the filter-antennaof FIG. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a filter-antenna 20 in one embodiment of theinvention. The filter-antenna 20 is operably connected with a signal(e.g., energy) source 10 such as a power amplifier to receive a signal(e.g., energy) from the signal source 10. The filter-antenna 20 includesa bandpass channel 22BP and a band-stop channel 22BS. The bandpasschannel 22BP is connected with an antenna element 24. The band-stopchannel 22BS is connected with a filter element 26 illustrated as aresistor. The energy in the passband received at the bandpass channel22BP is transmitted to the antenna element 24; the energy in thestopband received at the band-stop channel 22BS is absorbed ordissipated by the resistor 26. Thus, the energy reflection in both thepassband and the stopband is reduced, minimized, and preferablysubstantially eliminated, to avoid possible detrimental effects onneighboring components (e.g., the power amplifier).

FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate a filter-antenna 200 in one embodiment of theinvention. The filter-antenna 200 generally includes a microstripantenna integrated with an absorptive filter for absorbing ordissipating energy. In this embodiment, the microstrip antenna is apatch antenna and the absorptive filter is a band-stop filter forabsorbing or dissipating stopband energy.

As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D, the filter-antenna 200 includes a substrate202, a patch network 204 formed by conductive patches on an upper faceof the substrate 202, and a ground plane 206 formed by a conductivesurface on a lower face of the substrate 202. The substrate 202 has adielectric constant ε_(rs). The substrate 202 has a thickness (inz-direction) t, and an area (in x-y plane) of G×G. A coaxial connectoror feed connector 208, with an inner cable of radius r₁, is attached tothe lower surface of the substrate 202 and penetrates through thesubstrate 202 to connect with a patch 204A of the patch network 204. Thecable feed 208 is soldered to the patch 204A for exciting thefilter-antenna 200.

As best shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the patch network 204 includes a mainpatch 204A and two side patches 204B, 204C arranged on respective sidesof the main patch 204A. The main patch 204A includes a central portion204A1 and two side portions 204A2, 204A3 arranged on two sides of thecentral portion 204A1. The central portion 204A1 includes two generallyU-shaped slots 220 disposed symmetrically about an axis of symmetry (inx-direction) of the main patch 204A. Each of the U-shaped slots 220 isassociated with a respective open stub (surrounded by a dotted loop near220), a λ_(g)/4 open stub (λ_(g) is the guided wavelength). Each of theside portions 204A2, 204A3 include a dual-stub or a dual-stub feed 222.Each dual stub feed 222 include stubs of lengths of L₆ and L₇ (L₆>L₇)separated by width W₅. The two stubs have the same width of W₆. Thecentral portion 204A1 is connected with the feed 208 at one end and witha resistor element 214 in the other end.

The two side patches 204B, 204C are parasitic slotted patches. Each ofthe patches 204B, 204C is generally rectangular and includes arectangular slot. The two side patches 204B, 204C are symmetricallydisposed about the axis of symmetry (in x-direction) of the main patch204A. The two side patches 204B, 204C are also aligned with the mainpatch 204A in that their top edges (in the x-direction) are on the samelevel and their bottom edges (in the x-direction) are on the same level.Each of the slotted patches 204B, 204C has a length of L_(a) and widthof W_(a), and is respectively spaced apart from the edge of the mainpatch 204A by a distance S₁. The rectangular slot has a length of L_(p)and width of W_(p1).

FIG. 2D shows the ground plane 206. The ground plane 206 is generally aflat conductive surface with three slots. At the center of the groundplane 206, which, in plan view, correspond to the main patch 204A is aU-shaped slot, a λ_(g)/2 U-shaped slot 230 formed (e.g., etched) in theground plane 206. Two generally-η shaped side slots 232 are arranged ontwo sides of the U-shaped slot 230 to improve the suppression level ofthe lower stopband.

FIG. 2C shows the filter element 214 at least partly arranged inside thesubstrate 202. In this embodiment, the filter element 214 is a chipresistor embedded in the substrate 202 (a small hole formed in thesubstrate 202) for absorbing or dissipating stopband energy. The chipresistor has a resistance of 47 n. One end of the chip filter issoldered to the main patch 204A whereas the other end of the chip filteris soldered to the ground plane 206.

The filter-antenna 200 of FIGS. 2A to 2D includes a filter integratedinto the patch antenna. The filter is formed by a defected microstripstructure arranged in the microstrip network 204, the chip resistor 214,and a defected ground structure arranged in the ground plane 206. Thedefected microstrip structure includes the stubs and slots 220 arrangedin the central portion 204A1. The defected ground structure includes theslots 230, 232 formed in the ground plane 206. The filter can beconsidered as a resistor-terminated band-stop filter (BSF) 210.

FIG. 3 shows a method 300 for making a filter-antenna in one embodimentof the invention. The filter-antenna could be the one in FIGS. 2A to 2D.The method 300 includes, in step 302, forming a microstrip antenna, andin step 304, integrating, in the microstrip antenna, an absorptivefilter for absorbing or dissipating energy. The two steps 302, 304 maybe carried out in the order stated, or simultaneously. The microstripantenna may be a patch antenna. In one example, forming the microstripantenna includes processing a PCB substrate (substrate+metallic layerson opposite faces of the substrate). Specifically forming the microstripantenna may include forming a microstrip network on a first face of asubstrate of the microstrip antenna, forming a defected microstripstructure in the microstrip network, and/or forming a defected groundstructure on a ground plane on a second, opposite face of the microstripantenna. The absorptive filter may be integrated in the substrate byforming (e.g., drilling) a hole in the substrate, then arranging thefilter element in the hole. The filter element of the absorptive filtercan be arranged substantially completely in the hole. Electricconnections between the filter element and the ground plane may beformed by soldering or welding. Likewise, Electric connections betweenthe filter element and the microstrip network may be formed by solderingor welding.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the prototype 400 of a filter-antenna fabricatedbased on the filter-antenna 200 of FIGS. 2A to 2D. Dimensions of theprototype 400 are listed in the following table.

TABLE I DIMENSIONS OF THE FILTER-ANTENNA PROTOTYPE L_(a) W_(a) L_(p)W_(p1) W_(p2) S₁ S₂ 15.9 mm 9.4 mm 7.2 mm 2.4 mm 1.4 mm 1.3 mm 12.95 mmS₃ S₄ S₅ S₆ S₇ r₁ r₂ 2.55 mm 0.75 mm 1.65 mm 1.2 mm 0.9 mm 0.48 mm 1.8mm r₃ L₁ L₂ L₃ L₄ L₅ L₆ 0.75 mm 0.7 mm 2.15 mm 9.95 mm 9.8 mm 2.7 mm11.6 mm L₇ L₈ L₉ W₁ W₂ W₃ W₄ 8.1 mm 2 mm 2.65 mm 0.15 mm 4 mm 1.1 mm 0.4mm W₅ W₆ W₇ L_(g1) L_(g2) L_(g3) L_(g4) 0.5 mm 0.4 mm 0.8 mm 10.4 mm 3mm 12.5 mm 2.1 mm L_(g5) W_(g1) W_(g2) H G t ε_(rs) 8.9 mm 0.2 mm 0.15mm 30 mm 40 mm 1.575 mm 2.33

Experiments and simulations had been performed to verify the performanceof the filter-antenna 400. The experiments performed includes measuringreflection coefficient using an Agilent™ 8753ES vector network analyzer,and measuring radiation pattern, antenna gain, and antenna efficiencyusing a Satimo™ StarLab System.

FIG. 5 shows the measured and simulated reflection coefficients of thefilter-antenna 400 and reflection coefficient of a reference antenna. Asshown in FIG. 5, the measured result generally agrees with the simulatedresult. The measured reflection coefficient is below −10 dB over theentire frequency range (5-6.5 GHz). This demonstrates thereflection-less characteristic of the filter-antenna 400. It is notedthat the reflection coefficient of the filter-antenna 400 does not havea sharp selectivity. For comparison, a conventional rectangular patchantenna having the same length of L_(a) and width of W_(t) is includedhere as the reference antenna. Its simulated reflection coefficient isalso shown in FIG. 5. It can be seen from FIG. 5 that the impedancebandwidth of the reference antenna is much narrower than that of thefilter-antenna 400 although the reference antenna and filter-antenna 400have the same patch size.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show the measured and simulated normalized radiationpatterns at 5.8 GHz. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the maximum co-polarfield is found in the boresight direction (θ=0°). It is stronger thanits cross-polar counterpart by more than 22 dB. The measured H-planeradiation pattern (yz-plane, ϕ=90°) is not symmetric although thefilter-antenna 400 is symmetric about the xz-plane. This may be causedby experimental imperfections including assembly errors. It was foundthat the radiation patterns are stable over the targeted ISM band(5725-5.875 GHz) (results not illustrated).

FIG. 7 shows the measured and simulated realized antenna gains in theboresight direction (θ=0°). With reference to FIG. 7, the measured andsimulated results are in good agreement. The measured maximum realizedgain is 7.28 dBi at 5.8 GHz, which is 0.78 dB lower than the simulatedpeak gain (8.06 dBi) at 5.94 GHz due to experimental tolerances. Themeasured realized antenna gain is higher than 7 dBi from 5.725 to 5.875GHz, with a measured 1-dB gain bandwidth (gain≥6.28 dBi) of 5.86%(5.63-5.97 GHz). In the upper stopband, two measured radiation nullswith low antenna gains of around −23.5 dBi, along with a sharp roll-offrate for the upper band-edge, are observed. The measured out-of-bandsuppression level is more than 20.5 dB in the upper stopband (6.12-6.50GHz). In the lower stopband (5.00-5.44 GHz), another two radiation nullsare measured at 5.41 GHz and below 5.0 GHz, respectively, leading to asuppression level of more than 17.4 dB. The antenna gain of thereference antenna is also shown in the same figure to highlight thefiltering characteristic of the filter-antenna 400 of the aboveembodiment.

FIG. 8 shows the measured and simulated total antenna efficiency(mismatch included) of the filter-antenna 400. With reference to FIG. 8,the measured efficiency is higher than 72.5% from 5.725 to 5.875 GHz,with a maximum of 78.5% at 5.74 GHz. The simulated peak efficiency is89.7% at 5.98 GHz. The efficiency decreases rapidly on the band-edge andthen becomes small in the stopbands, giving a sharp selectivity. Sincethe antenna 200, 400 is matched across the entire band (5-6.5 GHz), itcan be inferred that the energy is mostly dissipated in the chipresistor in the antenna stopbands. This illustrates that a well-matchedantenna does not necessarily radiate effectively. Again, the simulatedresult of the reference patch antenna is included in FIG. 8. Asexpected, the reference patch antenna does not have any sharp filteringresponse.

The simulated power loss in the chip resistor is shown in FIG. 9. Theresults in FIG. 9 have been normalized with respect to the maximum at5.24 GHz. With reference to FIG. 9, the normalized power loss is lowerthan 0.12 in the 1-dB gain passband (5.63-5.97 GHz) and higher than 0.85in the stopbands (5.00-5.44 GHz and 6.12-6.50 GHz) with sharp band-edgeselectivity. It should be noted that the frequency response of thenormalized power loss in FIG. 9 is almost complementary to that of thesimulated efficiency in FIG. 8. This suggests that the band-stop filterand the filtering patch antenna have generally-complementary transferfunctions, which are required to reduce or eliminate reflection.

The above embodiments of the invention have generally provided afilter-antenna that can effectively reduce reflection of energy, inparticular energy in the stopband. The filter-antenna is compact,low-profile, and small, and is suitable for miniature communicationdevices and systems. The above embodiments of the invention can be usedin the wireless transmitter to reduce the system size and loss. Thefilter-antenna in the above embodiment has four radiation nulls that canbe tuned independently to facilitate the design. A resistor-terminatedband-stop filter is embedded at the center of the patch antenna toabsorb the energy in the stopbands. The band-stop filter consists of adefected ground structure, a defected microstrip structure, along withthe chip resistor. Good impedance matching is achieved in the passbandand in the stopband.

The filter-antenna in the above embodiments may reduce, avoid, orprevent the energy in the stopband from reflecting back to the source orother components, by absorbing or dissipating the energy through afilter (esp., resistor). The energy in the passband is transmitted tothe antenna, whereas the energy in the stopbands is absorbed by thefilter (esp., resistor). As a result, the energy reflection is greatlyreduced or even eliminated in both the passband and stopbands, whichavoid possible detrimental effects on the source or other components.

It will be appreciated by person skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown inthe specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention as broadly described. The described embodiments of theinvention should therefore be considered in all respects asillustrative, not restrictive.

For example, the filter-antenna need not be a patch antenna but can beother forms of microstrip antennas. The substrate of the antenna can beformed by one or more substrate layers, of the same or differentdielectric constants (er). The dielectric constant of the substratelayer can vary. The shape, form, and size of the substrate; the shape,form, and size of the ground plane; and the shape, form, and size of themicrostrip network or patch network can be different. The patch networkcan have any number of (at least one) patches with any of shape andform. The patch(es) need not necessarily be arranged symmetrically. Thepatches could form an array to give an array antenna (integrated withfilter). The feed of the antenna can be non-coaxial feed, such asmicrostrip feed. The feed need not be perpendicular to the face of thesubstrate, but can be parallel or at any other angles to the face of thesubstrate. The filter-antenna can be made with different form factors.The filter-antenna can be used for other radio frequencies (e.g.,microwave) not specifically mentioned above.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A filter-antenna, comprising: a microstripantenna integrated with an absorptive filter for absorbing ordissipating energy; wherein the microstrip antenna includes a substrate,a ground plane arranged on a first face of the substrate, and amicrostrip network arranged on a second, opposite face of the substrate;and wherein the absorptive filter includes a filter element at leastpartly arranged inside the substrate; a defected microstrip structurearranged in the microstrip network and operably connected with thefilter element; and a defected ground structure arranged in the groundplane and operably connected with the filter element.
 2. Thefilter-antenna of claim 1, wherein the microstrip antenna is a patchantenna.
 3. The filter-antenna of claim 1, wherein the absorptive filteris a band-stop filter for absorbing or dissipating stopband energy. 4.The filter-antenna of claim 1, wherein the filter element is arrangedsubstantially completely inside the substrate.
 5. The filter-antenna ofclaim 4, wherein the filter element comprises a resistor.
 6. Thefilter-antenna of claim 4, wherein the filter element comprises a chipresistor.
 7. The filter-antenna of claim 1, wherein the microstripantenna is a patch antenna and the microstrip network comprises a patch.8. The filter-antenna of claim 7, wherein the patch includes a centralportion, and the defected microstrip structure comprises one or moreslots arranged in the central portion of the patch.
 9. Thefilter-antenna of claim 8, wherein the central portion of the patchincludes one or more open stubs each associated with a respective slot.10. The filter-antenna of claim 9, wherein the patch further includes afirst side portion connected with and arranged a first side of thecentral portion and a second side portion connected with and arranged ata second, opposite side of the central portion, and wherein each of thefirst and second side portions includes one or more stubs.
 11. Thefilter-antenna of claim 9, wherein the defected ground structurecomprises one or more slots arranged in the ground plane.
 12. Thefilter-antenna of claim 11, wherein the defected ground structurecomprises a central slot corresponding to the central portion of thepatch.
 13. The filter-antenna of claim 12, wherein the defected groundstructure further comprises a first side slot arranged on a first sideof the central slot and a second side slot arranged on a second,opposite side of the central slot.
 14. The filter-antenna of claim 7,wherein the patch is symmetric about an axis of symmetry.
 15. Thefilter-antenna of claim 7, wherein the microstrip network furthercomprises one or more parasitic patches operably connected with thepatch.
 16. The filter-antenna of claim 15, wherein the one or moreparasitic patches are spaced apart from the patch.
 17. Thefilter-antenna of claim 16, wherein the one or more parasitic patchescomprises two parasitic patches arranged at opposite sides of the patch.18. The filter-antenna of claim 17, wherein the two parasitic patchesare slotted patches.
 19. The filter-antenna of claim 18, wherein the twoparasitic patches are equally spaced apart from the patch andsymmetrically disposed about the patch.
 20. The filter-antenna of claim7, wherein the patch antenna has a coaxial feed that extends through thesubstrate and connects with the patch.
 21. The filter-antenna of claim20, wherein the coaxial feed is connected at one end of the patch andthe filter element is connected at another end of the patch.
 22. Amethod for making a filter-antenna, comprising: forming a microstripantenna integrated with an absorptive filter for absorbing ordissipating energy, comprising: forming a microstrip antenna; andintegrating, in the microstrip antenna, an absorptive filter forabsorbing or dissipating energy; wherein forming the microstrip antennacomprises forming a microstrip network on a first face of a substrate ofthe microstrip antenna; forming a defected microstrip structure in themicrostrip network; and forming a defected ground structure on a groundplane on a second, opposite face of the substrate of the microstripantenna; and wherein integrating the absorptive filter comprises forminga hole in the substrate for receiving a filter element of the absorptivefilter.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the microstrip antenna is apatch antenna.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein integrating theabsorptive filter further comprises: arranging the filter element of theabsorptive filter in the hole.
 25. The method of claim 24, whereinarranging the filter element of the absorptive filter in the holecomprises arranging the filter element of the absorptive filtersubstantially completely in the hole.
 26. The method of claim 24,further comprising: forming an electric connection between the filterelement and the ground plane and an electric connection between thefilter element and the microstrip network.